"Miss Radhurst," he replied,
"they have been the happiest years of my life. Until the miners
arrived at Klassan my work was one of continual joy and peace, even
when I was struggling with the medicine men at the beginning of my
ministry there."

"But I cannot understand," Constance rejoined, "how an educated man can
be satisfied to remain in such a wilderness, away from all congenial
surroundings. Does not the mind become----"

"Stagnant?" assisted Keith, noticing her hesitate over the word, and a
flush cross her face.

"Yes, that is what I mean, though it may seem rather a harsh judgment."

"Some think so, but that is where they are mistaken. It is here we
have room and time to think, and let our minds expand. It was my good
Bishop of the Mackenzie River who once said that he was willing to
devote a whole lifetime in the wilderness among the Indians, and also
to the study of the Bible in the original language, which the bustle of
life in London sadly interrupted. Now, during the last ten years I
have studied the Indian dialect of this country, prepared a grammar, a
lexicon, and have translated portions of the Scriptures, and also the
entire Prayer Book, besides a number of hymns. These have been
printed, and the natives carry them to their hunting grounds, and read
them carefully."

"This is all new to me," said Constance. "I never thought of it in
that way. But does not the bleakness of the land wear upon you, making
you long for the sweet meadows and the fragrant flowers?"

"You must remember, Miss Radhurst, that it is not all winter here. We
have beautiful summers, when the song birds return, and the flowers
bloom on every hand. Then it is good to live in such a place, and,
though I do miss the sweet meadows, yet there is much to compensate me
for their loss. The forests are filled with a joyous life, where every
creature, small and great, rejoices in being alive. Often those
ancient words come to my mind, as I wander through the woods, watch the
rushing streams, or gaze upon the lofty mountains, 'All ye works of the
Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him forever.' But,"
he continued, after a pause, "there is another field in which I have
worked, and because I have done so I believe I shall be able to help
your father."

"And what is that?" asked Constance eagerly.

"As a medical man, I have studied most carefully the simple remedies
used by the Indians in their treatment of di